This Saturday, Cruces Creatives, a Las Cruces nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a shared maker space for the city’s residents, will hold a Fix-It Fair from 9 a.m. to noon at the north end of the Farmers and Crafts Market.

Instead of tossing broken items such as furniture, clothing, small appliances, printers, bicycles, lamps, small electronics and woodwork, the group hopes people will come to have them repaired by a dozen volunteers with a variety of “fix it” skills, said Jon Simmons, one of the event organizers.

“This is a chance to get those things fixed that you don’t really know where to take them or there’s no shop for them,” Simmons said. “It’s building a community, not only of the volunteers but of this do-it-yourself culture that is becoming fashionable again — fixing and making things instead of buying them.”

Cruces Creatives(Photo: Courtesy)

The repairs are free, but some items, such as bike inner tubes or small hardware items, may have to be purchased. Volunteers may have some small items on hand, or can tell you what you need to pick up at the store to complete the repairs. Donations, cash or check, will be accepted. Any money raised will go toward Cruces Creative’s goal of opening a “maker space” — a shared studio, workshop and tool shed for entrepreneurs, crafters and artists.

Those taking advantage of Saturday’s repair services will also be able to learn how to fix the items themselves with a do-it-yourself table and tools as well as advice from the experts. It not only makes people more self-reliant and reduces the stream of waste into local landfills, but also supports a culture that is moving away from commercialism.

“Consumer culture has conditioned us to buying disposable or limited-life products, throwing them away and buying some more,” Simmons said. “We can pull ourselves out of consumer culture that has conditioned us to buy things on credit that maybe we can’t afford and turn that into a culture of enjoying making things, feeling proud of an object we helped create instead of buying off the shelf. Modifying things the way we want them, those are the beautiful things that come out of doing it yourself.”

Cruces Creative's goal of opening a shared maker space is based on its belief that New Mexico State University and Doña Ana Community College have trained graduates for work in the creative and innovative sectors, but the tools of the trade are often too expensive for individuals to purchase on their own. By creating a shared space and access to tools — from hand tools and woodworking equipment to 3-D printing systems, laser cutters, scanners and other high-tech equipment — it will foster these creative projects into viable businesses.

The group also aims to promote environmental awareness as well, as a means to reduce waste. When the maker space opens, the all-volunteer group will offer courses on sustainable home building and repairing household items to prevent them being sent to the landfill. They also have enlisted the help of the local recycling center to use reclaimed glass and plastics in 3-D printing.

Members will pay a small amount to join the maker space once it is open. Cruces Creatives plan to phase in the project, beginning with about 5,000 square feet of space and tools focused on electronic repair and woodworking. By 2020 or so, they hope to occupy a fully-equipped indoor and outdoor space in excess of 20,000 square feet. Residential space could eventually be included in that plan as well, offering a work/live option for artists.

“We are still taking a look at different locations,” said Lea Wise-Surguy, who along with her husband, Pat, and a group of local volunteers and activists, are spearheading the effort. “We’ve very gratefully received more tool donations. We are getting closer.”

A fundraiser is planned late this summer or in early fall to raise the final funding to move into a permanent location, buy more tools and start a scholarship program to help those in financial need join the maker space.

Currently, Cruces Creatives is accepting donations by cash or check only. Donations of small tools are also welcome. More information is available at their website, crucescreatives.org or their Facebook page, Cruces Creatives. The group is also seeking sponsors for larger items like a laser cutter and 3D printers for use in the space when it opens later this year.